Marin Readers' Forum for Oct. 9

I write in response to Therese Mahoney's letter in the Oct. 3 issue. No one expects our public employees to have no retirement benefits.

What I object to is the size of those benefits compared to what most of us receive under Social Security.

Under the county retirement system (also applicable to many city employees) employees can retire with as little as 10 years of service and receive retirement benefits for the rest of their lives even while working in other government jobs.

A more common scenario would be a county employee who begins work at age 28 and retires at age 55 with 27 years of service.

That employee could receive as much as 81 percent of their pre-retirement salary.

Taking your point that the "worker bees" make far less than the top officials, the "Public Employees Salary Database" shows that an "Office Assistant" in Marin in 2012 made just under $53,000 per year.

If that employee never advanced and retired age 55 after 27 years of service he or she would receive a benefit of $42,930 per year for life. That is a far richer benefit than a similar wage earner who is forced to accept Social Security benefits.

Moreover, the Social Security retiree cannot collect benefits until age 65 or 67 depending on date of birth. That means that the public employee collects an extra 10 or 12 years of benefits which, at $42,930 per year, representing $420,930 to $515,160 in greater benefits compared to the Social Security retiree.

It is simply not fair that the public employees retire earlier and receive vastly greater benefits from the public purse than those of us for whom you work.

I suggest the public retirement benefits be made to mirror Social Security. That would be fair.

Gregory W. Poulos, San Rafael

The price of pensions

Regarding the pension obligations of the cities and the county, here is how it goes:

The Democrats promise the public unions money and get elected. Then the next year, the Democrats promise the public unions more benefits and pension money and get elected. And it goes on and on.

But local government always runs special elections for the "kids" or police and fire because they have misused the pension fund and have no money for the kids or cops.

San Rafael is running one such "special" election this year.

The people of San Rafael and the county have no one to blame but themselves. They elect these politicians who build bike tunnels and bike paths when they can't fund the pension system.

Our representatives in San Rafael waste money on a climate plan when they can't fund the things that need funding.

Clean house and get people who are responsible and can pay the bills and fund the issues that need funding. Don't let the Democrats kick the can down the road any longer; kick them down the road.

Robert A. Casper Sr., San Rafael

HOUSING

'A good fit for Marin?'

I think that every Marin County resident should get in their car and drive down Highway 101 through Corte Madera.

Then take a good hard look at the massive apartment complex being constructed beside the freeway.

Next, ask yourself if you think this development is a good fit for Marin.

I think most that see these multi-story units will feel this is way too massive for this area.

I would only hope that the next time you go to the polls to vote, you remember what you saw being built in Corte Madera.

Then, make sure you vote for the candidate that best reflects your overall views for Marin County's future.

Jim McClelland, San Rafael

A transit success story

Thanks to IJ columnist Dick Spotswood for shining a light on the linkage between multi-unit housing location and the use of transit.

We have a new 60-unit apartment building in Novato called Warner Creek, operated by Eden Housing, dedicated to low-income older adults and people with disabilities. It is located near the intersection of Diablo and Novato Boulevard, close to the downtown and is well situated for multiple transit options.

Many of the residents do not drive or cannot afford the upkeep of a personal car. They are taking advantage of a number of transit options available to them.

They are using Whistlestop Wheels, Marin's paratransit service and fixed route buses operated by Marin Transit. They are getting acquainted with the volunteer driver program (called STAR) also operated by Whistlestop and the Catch- a-Ride service, a discounted taxi service for those 80 and older or over 60 and no longer able to drive.

We expect, as they become more versed in what is available, that the penetration of transit use will increase even more.

Check out www.marinaccess.org for more information on these and other services that increase mobility for seniors and people with disabilities in our community.

Madeline Kellner, Novato City Council Member and Marin Transit District Director

SAN RAFAEL

Colin 'has good judgment'

I am writing in support of Kate Colin for election to the San Rafael City Council.

Since her appointment to the council earlier this year, she has served effectively and demonstrated that she would be a solid addition to the council.

Before her appointment, I had numerous occasions to work with her on various neighborhood and community matters. I know from this experience that she is smart and energetic, does her homework, and has good judgment.

She's also a good listener and takes care to understand the facts and issues thoroughly before forming an opinion. Most importantly, she is, in my opinion, a serious person worthy of our trust.

I have lived in San Rafael for over 45 years. During that time, I have seen few candidates that I consider as well qualified. I strongly encourage you to join me in supporting her candidacy for the City Council.

John M. Collette, San Rafael

environment

Gov. Brown let us down

Gov. Jerry Brown claims to be a leader on climate change but he just signed SB 4, allowing full-scale fracking of California farmland, coastlines and urban neighborhoods.

The majority of Californians are against fracking in our state for good reasons. There have been fracking oils spills in other states posing serious health risks to humans, animals and destroying farmland.

In February, the Denver Post reported an oil spill from fracking in Windsor, Colo. and again this September after recent floodwaters in Boulder.

Fracking in California is a bad idea, especially considering we are located in an earthquake zone. Gov. Brown needs to ban this unnecessary and very dangerous practice immediately.

Lisa Pelo, Mill Valley

POLITICS

The responsible party

After years of telling the American people how they, the Republican Party, is the "party of personal responsibility," the same Republican Party is doing everything in its power to avoid responsibility for the ongoing shut down of the United States government.

It did not mean to defund the National Institutes of Health, and thereby deny cancer drugs for children. Republicans love children and even had Republicans in white doctor's smocks chiding the president for not supporting a limited spending to restore funds that would allow those poor innocent children access to drugs that they need.

Except for the fact that under the ongoing sequester, House and Senate Republicans voted to defund N.I.H. to the tune of over $1.5 billion that would have gone to give access to cancer drugs for men, women and children.

Also, all the care and concern for those poor innocent children came a day after the story about them losing their access to drugs. That's called manufactured outrage.

If the Republican Party is the "party of personal responsibility," then why are Republicans so ready to run from taking responsibility for what their shutdown has caused.